Mount Crawford

Crawford Notch to the left, much of the southern Presi's ridgeline all the way to Washington (in the clouds) just right of center.

Distance: 5 miles roundtrip 
Duration: 3 hours 

Yesterday, the pups and I, including Molly who is with us for the week, took a hike up Mt Crawford in Crawford Notch.  We were to meet up with friends from Mass but they were delayed and I made the decision to get underway, much to the relief of two very antsy dingoes!

The summit is reached via the Davis Path and a small (.3 mi) spur trail to finish off the ascent.  The Davis Path holds a lot of history and was originally built for horses so the grades are moderate.  They didn't quite seem it when we started out though, as I tried to make up for lost time!

Our hike started as a nice, 15 minute walk and I noticed the leaves are being packed down nicely by foot traffic.

The first set of rock stairs indicated the start of the incline and is likely very enjoyable if one take's her time, unlike what I was doing!

From about .8 miles in to a couple tenths shy of the junction the trail was pretty uniform.  While it wasn't steep, it did not offer many breaks, reminding me of the Tuckerman Ravine Trail to the Hermit Lake Shelter.

A couple slow switchbacks maintained the grade we'd been accustomed to as the elevation rose. Fifty minutes into our hike, the trail evened out quite nicely and I knew were were nearing the junction.  Before that point, we came upon the first open, rocky vista.  Since we were now exposed to the wind (on and off), I put on my shell and put Ty's new Quinzee coat, courtesy of Backcountry K-9 for testing, over her pack.  The trail headed back into the trees, then over more exposed areas before reaching the junction.

A couple icy patches but nothing like what we
traversed on the Crawford Path two weeks ago.

 The spur started off heading straight up a steep incline.  The trail weaved between open rock faces and pines for most of its .3 mile/10 minute duration, barely gaining elevation.  Within a hundred yards of the summit, Ty knew we were close and started to trot.  I tried to keep up but ledges + dog on leash + random patches of ice put me more at a speed walk pace!  Looking down for footing, I always love how sudden the first glimpse of the Presidentials is.  Just up ahead was the official summit and ledges.  There were a couple small herd paths, they'll all get you to the right place and the summit is relatively small.  Catching views of all the snow-capped peaks on the drive to the trailhead, I had fantasies of epic pictures to come with all the pups.  Those thoughts quickly fizzled when I asked for a "sit stay" and got it - with pouting, puckered faces at the strong wind and disdain for standing still.  I abandoned my efforts and we headed down at a good clip.

The pitch at the beginning of the spur

First glimpse of the Presi's

My oh-so cooperative team.  To their credit, at least they stuck
with their positions when the wind blew!

About 20 minutes later, after cruising back onto the Davis Path, we ran into our friends we had intended to hike up with, Maeghan and Renato, on their way up.  After some contemplation, they turned around and we headed down together.  For the most part, after the first quarter mile or so, I was somewhat surprised by the ease of the descent.  We could've jogged it!  I suppose that means if one doesn't try to power up faster than necessary, the ascent isn't so difficult either.  There was not much picking around rocks and the grade was perfect for a fast speed - elevation loss was quick enough to pick up the pace but not so steep we spent our energy trying to slow down.

An hour later, we were back at our cars.  This is a great short hike.  Maeghan has some nasty knee issues for her youth but did excellent, heading both up and down.  While she and Renato missed the summit, they had done the vast majority of the elevation gain.  The rocky slabs they missed offer fantastic views that take me aback, even on cloudy days.  At times, they are easy to get a little off trail on.  Thankfully, I have dogs I trust implicitly and who never steer me wrong, but I finally (third time up this trail) noticed the faded blazes on the ground.  Those will help too!

The girls, naturally, napped in the car but could've gone for hours more.  Tango did quite well after a warm-up period; the grade and good footing were beneficial to him and he took the whole hike in stride.  There were not many water sources this time of year for them but there are a few patches of ice.  They absolutely love exploring the exposed slabs and I love how enchanting and easy the last half mile or so is, skirting in and out of the evergreens. As nice as this trail is, I am really looking forward to snowshoe season!

Post hike shenanigans - Ty inspecting under the hood for mice

Halloween on the Crawford Path (Eisenhower and Pierce)

Happy November and welcome to shoulder season!  Two weeks ago, we first encountered such conditions on a hike for which I never finished my report.  Boo on me because it was an enjoyable and challenging hike up Carrigain for Dan's NH4K finish.  That was on October 25th.  The wind had a good bite to it; Signal Ridge Trail was covered in leaves, mud, and occasionally ice along the rockiest stretches; and there was a dusting of snow at the summit.

On Saturday we met up with David and his dog Meka for the first time to do Eisenhower and Pierce and encountered more of the joy that is the shoulder season.

Around 5:50 AM, we headed up the Crawford Connector from the parking lot on Clinton Road.  It was our first time departing in the dark, something I'd been wanting to experience for awhile.  Hiking with someone who's done it countless times made it fun and no different than hiking in the daylight.  Except that Ty was leashed for the first hour.

Thanks to David and Meka, we made okay time up to the junction with the Webster Cliff Trail, though I know we slowed them down!  It was about 7:40 and we had missed what looked like had been a hazy sunrise but still enjoyed an incredible view while continuing on to Ike.  (We held off on Pierce knowing we were to meet more friends there later on.)

View from just past the trail junction

 I was astounded at the lack of wind as we continued on.  Up until  that point, the trail had been wet and slick for a step or two but hadn't affected my pace; however, ice became a common obstacle on the ridge.  Flat sections were narrow skating rinks and rocks were iced over.  Of course I had left my poles in the car and David graciously lent me one of his.  The walk to Eisenhower is a relatively flat one until one reaches the loop - a detail that made the walking over ice much easier than it might have been otherwise.  We could have put light traction on but between each icy section there were still enough dry stretches that it wasn't worth killing our gear (or putting spikes on/off/on/off...).

The loop trail was clear of ice and the low vegetation and cairns had some rime on them, a sight I am rarely lucky enough to witness.  There was some wind at the summit but it was shockingly tolerable (at least to me!) and we were there for about 45 minutes, playing games with the dogs and, for me, subjecting them to photos in costume.  It was Halloween after all!

Loop Trail

Summit

Meka playing hide and seek
around the summit cairn

Back on the Crawford Path, the ice had started to melt, making for more slippery ice.  The wind was nonexistent, we ran into the first two other hikers of the morning, and the views were gorgeous.

At 10:30 we reached Pierce and I was still astounded by the mild weather.  We had prepared for wind and I was excited for the cold that Tango would've thrived in but it had to be in the upper 40's/lower 50's in the direct sun because I wasn't wearing gloves (I get cold easily).  Marcy soon arrived with Tucker and Sonny (more of our Facebook friends).   Marcy's storytelling is wonderful and she explained her tardiness and some of Tucker's most memorable escapades as Tango the shark napped in my lap, much to Marcy's amazement.  She said she'd passed at least 15 hikers on her way up so I put TybTangs' costumes back on, ready to solicit smiles.  Between their Halloween spirit and the canine convergence on the summit, many hikers were entertained!

Canine Takeover

An impressive two hours later (Ty had light reflections and critters in the summit cairn to occupy her for that long), we headed back down the Crawford Path.  It took about an hour and a half to descend the icy (predominantly north of the Mizpah Cutoff intersection), wet, muddy trail.  We passed another handful of people on their way up and only one other dog.  Meka and Ty got into a nice tag team routine chasing critters, whose angry chirps we smiled at with amusement.

Crawford Path trail conditions

Finally got all five pups in one photo (barely!)

At the (strangely empty) parking lot, David had celebratory ice cream for everyone.  Today was Meka's birthday celebration hike!  She is 10 years old and still kicking butt doing double-digit miles.  It was awesome to meet them and Marcy with her pups; putting faces to names is always fun, especially when dogs and trails are involved.

As in previous trip reports that include this section of the Crawford Path, I'll again extol its overall awesomeness.  The views are vast and beautiful and  the grade is easy to moderate.  The trails are mellow enough for Tango but also offer enough excitement for Ty. (Though I wish she would remove "lose collar" from her list of exciting trail activities!)  There was plenty of water access for them.  More runoff streams were flowing than I'd seen before due to the recent rain.  To this report, I will add that right now, it is more difficult than usual due to the wet and icy conditions.  Ensure your clothing and footwear are waterproof!  We had traction but opted not to use it, just took the extra time to move carefully over the ice.  At the very least, I would recommend trekking poles (for the ridge) but those are not requisite either.  Overall the dogs were unaffected although Tango had a few missteps on the ice.  As always, a wonderful hike with my two loves!

Gear Review: Web Master Pro

Let's face it, my dogs often have better gear than I do.  Backcountry K-9 sent them a brand new Ruffwear Web Master Pro for testing at about the same time I bought my new pack on Ebay.  Don't get me wrong, I love my new pack, but it doesn't get the number compliments the harness garners.  For nearly two months and 30 miles, Ty has been torturing it and this is what we came up with.

The Web Master Pro is based off the same chassis as Ruffwear's popular Web Master with some working dog-specific features.  Being that it was designed for canine SAR teams and Ruffwear worked closely with avalanche rescue organizations for its design, it has several additional, professional features like:

• Large, glove-friendly assist handle
• Plastic buckles of the Web Master have been replaced with all metal hardware
• Slim pockets with weatherproof zippers and mesh organizers for a very small amount of essentials

On top of all of that, it has the details that make the original Web Master one of the most commonly imitated designs such as:

• Five points of adjustment
• Ergonomic design
• Padded waist strap with Velcro to keep it in place
• Elastic end points on straps
• Reflective piping and a place for my contact info on the interior for safety

All the dogs (TybTangs and each foster who ever hit the trail with us) have worn the Web Master
extensively.  Needless to say, it is a favorite piece of gear and very durable.  Being that the Pro is a beefed up version, you can guess how I feel about it!  My favorite feature is the oversized handle.  It is great for quick grabs and assists and I anticipate it will really come in handy over the next few months when I have my massive gloves on.  

The all metal hardware is one of the key features that makes this a professional harness.  There is zero need for adjustments during our hikes.  The doubleback lacing is incredibly safe and reliable.  This is not to say I don't trust the plastic quick-release buckles on the original but when lifting is a crucial element of a dangerous job, I would definitely want the metal buckles.  It may take a moment longer to put on but it stays fitted throughout the excursion.  The convenience factor of quickly removing the harness is lost, but it's worth the added safety for those who need it.

All metal hardware = no buckles.
As with the other harnesses, excess straps tuck into the pad cover.
The ends are dipped in plastic to facilitate threading through the buckles.

The final difference between the Pro and the Web Master is the pockets.  They are the smallest in the Ruffwear lineup and meant, as stated in the product description, for essentials such as identification.  I think they're an excellent feature and I love the mesh organizers inside to keep items in place, maintaining even distribution and making small items easy to locate.  With our primary activity being hiking, it's great to still have a little bit of storage on the days I want someone in a harness but don't want him/her carrying weight.

Slimline pockets don't hold much more than gloves but are
still convenient without impeding motion or balance

For example, Our most recent hike took us up Glen Boulder in Pinkham Notch.  I knew the trail would be steep and thought it would be good to have Tango in a harness in case he needed some minor assistance.  Tango rarely wears a pack anymore.  Not only did he end up needing assistance to ascend a landing as high as my collarbone but on the way down, I needed to take my gloves off while we were on a rock slab that was too steep to set my pack down and where I really felt I needed both hands.  He was standing beside me, just begging to help out.  Although a small instance, it highlights the convenience of pockets.  When Ty wears it, I like to stuff it with items that, if needed, are easily accessible such as dog boots and other first aid items.  As I prepare for a crazy-cold hike this weekend, I know Ty will be in the Pro so I can activate a couple of hand warmers for her, as I doubt she will want a coat until we reach the bitter cold summit!


I have really enjoyed testing the Web Master Pro and irritating Ty with unnecessary lifts.  (Her indignation is priceless.)  The harness is well thought out and heavily focused on function and safety.  Some convenience factors are lost but for good reason.  All aspects of the harness have held up well to Ty's abuse but I have one minor concern.  After her third mostly wooded hike in the Pro (finishing appx. 23 miles), I noticed a few very tiny thread pulls towards the front of the pack from contact with bark and rocks.  My concern is that the pack material may wear a little fast for a SAR dog who is potentially going into conditions similar to what Ty chooses to venture through.  That being said, Ty is rough. Really rough.  Most of her gear has bark-colored streaks and chunks of reflective piping missing.  And in all honesty, those packs are a little fuzzy towards the shoulders but only once did fuzz become a hole, and a microscopic one at that.  Also, Ruffwear advertises it is easy to sew patches to this one, so if I sew (err, have it sewed - domestic goddess, I am not) her AMC 4,000 Footer patch to that spot, problem solved.

I thought I had the dog's pack needs covered but the Web Master Pro has quickly become their most used piece.  It's versatile enough that I can put Tango in it primarily as a harness or Ty can wear it as a tiny pack, perhaps the dog equivalent to a fanny pack. I can see where the input of the rescue teams Ruffwear worked with was utilized and suspect this pack will be popular with their target audience.  However, based on our experience, I see it fitting others' needs as well.

Check out the product at Backcountry K-9 here.

10-18-15 Additions
Yesterday, Ty wore the Pro on a 10 mile round trip hike to Mt Carrigain and it allowed for some more insights on the harness.

• It was the first time we were in conditions that tested the weatherproof zippers and they proved their necessity.
• The flailing excess straps were a minor irritant to me, although Ty seemed to ignore them.  I imagine this has only happened when Ty wears the Pro because she has such a tiny waist.  I found a strap adjuster floating in the bottom of my pack that worked well to correct the issue!